Contrast-enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM) Breast Cancer Screening

CESM is a mammogram performed after the injection of IV contrast. CESM is used most often when additional information is needed after a standard mammogram. CESM has also been used to determine the extent of a known breast cancer, to screen patients at high risk for developing breast cancer due to a family history or positive cancer genes, and for women with dense breast tissue. Two images are taken almost at the same time during the exam, after the iodine based contrast injection is administered. The first image is comparable to a regular mammogram. The second image shows areas that take up the contrast (enhance) showing increased blood flow. Breast cancers often enhance with contrast due to a greater amount of blood vessels. Non-cancerous lesions can also have greater blood flow.